topic Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help in Credit Cards

Amex Platinum NPSL Help

Swmjason — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 02:48:32 GMT

Just got my first Amex card Platinum NPSL (1 of 2, the other Blue Cash). How do I use this/these card(s) for maximum points/rewards? Future increases in CLIs ? Current rebuilding from low fives to past 700s ... Thank you all in advance for the help I have received and future guidance.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

gingerflower — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 05:02:06 GMT

Congratulations!

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

DONZI — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 05:40:35 GMT

The first and best way to earn right now is make sure you are prepared to meet the sign-up bonus requirements.

The amex platinum NPSL card as you may expect, earns most MR via the Amex Travel portal -- Airfare and Hotels.

Beyond that selective spending can be helpful. Amex offers can potentially yield some extra MR and cashback.

Among the benefits are a slew of ways to reap value from the card if it's applicable to your lifestyle, etc. It's good to study the benefits list and see what all it covers, it's somewhat diverse so something is likely to be useful and of value. A variety of them require enrollment, so be sure to enroll if required.

If you truly want to maximize the platinum be prepared to dig in and learn about airline partners, their miles programs and award flights. This is the area where the MR points are considered the most valuable. To learn more about it a good place to start is https://www.flyertalk.com/

I've been satisfied with perks from 'Fine Hotels and Resorts', 'Hotel Collection' and lounge access among other simple benefits.

The blue cash... everyday or preferred?

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

Swmjason — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 07:38:15 GMT

It's Amex Blue Cash Preferred. Thank you, I've begun with that travel forum also.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

JoeRockhead — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 10:04:50 GMT

Congratulations on your new Amex approval!

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

SouthJamaica — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 18:26:25 GMT

@Swmjason wrote:
Just got my first Amex card Platinum NPSL (1 of 2, the other Blue Cash). How do I use this/these card(s) for maximum points/rewards? Future increases in CLIs ? Current rebuilding from low fives to past 700s ... Thank you all in advance for the help I have received and future guidance.

Congratulations on your approvals.

As @DONZI pointed out, your primary best use is to make sure you earn the signup bonuses within the specified time frames.

For the Blue Cash Preferred, it's simple; try to use it as much as you can on groceries, streaming, gas, and transit.

For the Amex Platinum it's a really complicated subject on how to get the most value from it. Unless you travel a lot by air, you will probably have a tough time getting enough value out of it to justify the annual fee.

The Platinum doesn't have credit limit increases.

With the BCP, no need to worry about Amex CLI's. They're soft pull, and they're relatively easy to get.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

NoMoreDebt — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:23:08 GMT

congrats on the AMEX approval

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

nytokyobred79 — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:31:26 GMT

Congrats on your Platinum approval.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

fury1995 — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 14:03:08 GMT

Congrats on both of your Amex cards!

For future credit line increases, your Blue Cash reports a credit limit but your Platinum will report your highest credit balance so that may help you push your other card issuers' limits up. My first (personal) Amex card was Amex Platinum and I was able to push all of my spending through that card and that helped me pry open some higher limits on other cards.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

firefox100 — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 19:31:02 GMT

Congrats enjoy it have fun traveling.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

OmarGB9 — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 19:31:40 GMT

One thing I don't think anyone pointed out os the fact that the BCP earns cashback while the Platinum earns Membership Rewards (MRs).

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

DONZI — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 21:57:50 GMT

It may be helpful also to remember the amex charge card(s) with NPSL can absorb utilization spikes if desired.

Somewhat a niche case, but suppose an unexpected expense comes up that would be high utilization on any one of the credit cards, and wanted to ensure it doesn't get reported as such -- pay it with the platinum.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 23:55:56 GMT

And I hate to be a downer (he lied) but just for general PSA: the time to ask about a card as complex and expensive as thhe Amex Plat is BEFORE you apply. Yes, if you can meet the SUB spend, it's not going to be bad, but many are not going to get much value from the card. (Others will do very well, but it general those are the ones who have planned what they are doing)

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

DONZI — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 02:04:44 GMT

lied?

Given the limited info, op may be military and has no platinum AF to consider for the time being and does basically make the platinum profitable whether acquired on impulse or not for active military.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 02:14:04 GMT

@DONZI wrote:
lied?

Given the limited info, op may be military and has no platinum AF to consider for the time being and does basically make the platinum profitable whether acquired on impulse or not for active military.

Sorry, the "he lied" was refering to me, modifying "I hate to be a downer" nothing about the OP.

Good point on active military having no AF changing the value equation, but I think the basic concept (understand before applying) is still valid.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

DONZI — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 06:19:11 GMT

I see, you were doing a Bob Dole eh?

Agreed, the amex platinum def. deserves contemplation in advance of commiting to the AF.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

MarkintheHV — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:40:13 GMT

I have both the Amex Platinum and the Amex BCP. If you want to maximize your rewards, I suggest you make a spreadsheet as I did, and lay out your bills and which card gets you the best bang for your buck. For example, the Amex BCP will give you 6% off of a streaming (I use it for everything except SiriusXM monthly subscription), but, the Amex Platinum will discount all streaming for a total of $20/month (I use it for SiriusXM $20 every month which totally pays my subscription cost and BCP for the rest of the streaming). Walmart+ is totally paid for by Amex Platinum and includes Paramount+ free, but Amex BCP will only give you 6% bonus for Paramount+. Of course, as always, ymmv

It takes a bit to figure the best way to get the best deals, but, well worth it in the end.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

Anonymous — Mon, 29 May 2023 20:10:17 GMT

@Swmjason wrote:
Just got my first Amex card Platinum NPSL (1 of 2, the other Blue Cash). How do I use this/these card(s) for maximum points/rewards? Future increases in CLIs ? Current rebuilding from low fives to past 700s ... Thank you all in advance for the help I have received and future guidance.

Questions:

Why did you apply for the card if you didn't know what you wanted it for?

Why are you asking about CLIs on a Platinum card. It's a charge card, not a credit card.

Frankly I'm wondering why AmEx would give you the platinum card to begin with. When I got mine you had to have a 750+ score, already have an AmEx charge card (green, gold) and spend 10K/year on it. Giving the card to someone with <800 and a bad history dilutes the prestige that AmEx wants to convey to prospective users. AXP is for travel and fine dining, not for buying a pair of jeans.

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

GZG — Mon, 29 May 2023 20:42:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Swmjason wrote:
dilutes the prestige that AmEx wants to convey to prospective users. AXP is for travel and fine dining, not for buying a pair of jeans.

I definitely feel Amex has made efforts to offer their products to regular people as of late

amex blue cash everyday, their advertising with the NBA on TNT, pay over time on charge cards, their seemingly more lax underwriting

I suppose it's easier to hand out more credit if it's the norm to hand it out with 28% interest rates, just my opinion

whether or not that harms their standing among the extremely rich is anybody's guess

even their recent commericals have people using their platinum cards on dining, however horrifying that may sound to myfico people

MEMBER WHEN | THE SWITCH UP | American Express

Re: Amex Platinum NPSL Help

SPChaser — Mon, 29 May 2023 20:47:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Swmjason wrote:
Just got my first Amex card Platinum NPSL (1 of 2, the other Blue Cash). How do I use this/these card(s) for maximum points/rewards? Future increases in CLIs ? Current rebuilding from low fives to past 700s ... Thank you all in advance for the help I have received and future guidance.
Questions:
Why did you apply for the card if you didn't know what you wanted it for?
Why are you asking about CLIs on a Platinum card. It's a charge card, not a credit card.

Frankly I'm wondering why AmEx would give you the platinum card to begin with. When I got mine you had to have a 750+ score, already have an AmEx charge card (green, gold) and spend 10K/year on it. Giving the card to someone with <800 and a bad history dilutes the prestige that AmEx wants to convey to prospective users. AXP is for travel and fine dining, not for buying a pair of jeans.

🍿 yup it's about that time